Courtesy Photo | Members of the Rasheed District Chamber of Commerce meet with Maj. Carlos Molinas,...... read more read more
BAGHDAD --The 425th Civil Affairs Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, hosted a seminar for Baghdad's Rasheed District Chamber of Commerce on budget development and planning, and contract negotiations with international businesses at Forward Operating Base Prosperity in Baghdad's International Zone Thursday.
The seminar is the third since the chamber's inception and hosted 25 members of the Iraqi entrepreneurial organization and covered classes on Finance for Managers and Principles for International Contract Negotiations.
"Their vision is to improve the economic conditions of Al Rasheed by developing current businesses and identifying potential businesses which will succeed in Rasheed and Baghdad," said Maj. Carlos Molina, liaison officer, Company A, 425th CA Bn.
The meeting for members of Iraq's business communities is a relatively new idea in efforts to improve economic stability and focus on goals that are key to the future of Baghdad, he said, a 41-year old from Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico. Molina is the officer responsible for coordinating and planning civil military operations for the 4th BCT.
The purpose of the chamber of commerce is to encourage Iraqi business men and women to find and develop local businesses in Baghdad's Al Rasheed District, he explained.
Looking to create and invest in factories, construction companies, gas stations and local markets in the Rasheed District, members of the council have created plans for future business ventures and financial management plans in an effort to stabilize the Iraqi economy, he said.
The development of business in Iraq is slow due to the current security situation, which is deterring banks from making small loans to local businesses. Once the United States Agency for International Development's micro loan program begins in Baghdad, Iraq's entrepreneurs will be able to build upon their business opportunities, said Molina.
"It's just the matter of obtaining the funding necessary to implement the ideas," he explained.
New protective measures in Rasheed, such as the Dora Security Council, which provides security for local Iraqi vendors and marketplaces with the help of the Iraqi Security Forces, will help to counter terrorist activities in Baghdad, said Molina.
He became involved with the Rasheed Chamber of Commerce upon deploying with his unit in April 2005 and discovered a group of businessmen only interested in gaining military contracts for local projects.
"Up front, I told them from the beginning not to expect projects from me," Molina said. "All I can do for them is provide assistance for developing their capacity as members of the chamber of commerce to develop strategic business plans for improving their own businesses or developing new businesses for Rasheed and Baghdad."
Molina, a member of the U.S. Army Reserves with more than 19 years of service, began working with the local businessmen to draw up a charter for the chamber, helping to outline its visions and goals to build a successful enterprise to, stimulate the economy.
"They were officially recognized last year by the Ministry of Planning as an official non-governmental organization," he explained. "Since then, we have offered the assistance of integrating the council members and networking them with other organizations, not only here in Baghdad but also international organizations, such as the International Chamber of Commerce and the Center for International Private Enterprise."
Members of the Iraqi Chamber of Commerce are also making efforts to network with other business organizations, such as the Baghdad Chamber of Commerce and the Iraqi American Chamber of Commerce, said Molina.
When not performing military duties, Molina works as an international business manager, a career that stoked his interests in the Rasheed Chamber of Commerce. Branch-designated Field Artillery, he became a U.S. Army Civil Affairs officer prior to deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"I hope to see that the chamber actually becomes a functional organization and that it achieves the goals and objectives it spelled out in their business plans and to see the members succeed in their own businesses, or the new businesses that they may develop, as a result of the economic development for the country.
The Iraqi chambers of commerce in Baghdad will remain a focus for the 4th Brigade Combat Team and 4th Infantry Division, said Maj. Jose Acosta, civil affairs officer, 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
"One of the things that we are trying to do in our area of this country is to stimulate the economy," Acosta said. "Having the chamber of commerce for Al Rasheed and Al Karradah is definitely a plus in the way ahead for this country."
The organization for business leaders will allow the country to invest in its future and allow for discourse between different communities within Iraq looking to build the economy, he said.
"The most important part is to have an exchange of ideas among the members and among the companies and key leaders of the area," said the native of San German, Puerto Rico.
"The main thing we need here is for Iraq to prosper. We need communication between the locals and the leaders. Without communication, everything will fail and the insurgency will definitely grow."
After Molina and the Soldiers of the Co. A, 425th CA Bn. redeploy to the United States in May, the 4th BCT will continue to focus on the Rasheed District Chamber of Commerce and assist the business leaders of south and central Baghdad to achieve their objective, said Acosta.
The successful efforts of the business communities in Baghdad, he said, will help future investors to achieve their own goals and visions " and lead to a prosperous economy for Iraq.
| Date Taken: | 05.09.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 05.09.2006 12:46 |
| Story ID: | 6319 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 136 |
| Downloads: | 59 |
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